More details to come, including post-game comments:

IN-GAME UPDATES:

DJ Hicks fumbles a punt with 26 seconds left and American Heritage recovers, and the Patriots will go into victory formation. American Heritage knocks off Jones for the second straight year for the 4A State championship, winning 33–28.

Larry Miles scores from the 2 yard line and Jones pulls within 33–28. 2:20 left in the game. Touchdown  drive highlighted by a 40 yard pass from Dereon Coleman to freshman Cameron Tooley. That set the ball up at a 5 yard line.

Penalties and inability to tackle on key plays cost Jones on a scoring drive as Heritage marches 80 yards. Tremaine Mullen scores from the 6. Heritage leaves 33-21, 3:19 left in the game.

Jones had Heritage stopped on a third down play but a  facemask penalty gave the Patriots first down at the 11 yard line. Another penalty moved the ball to the 6.

Dereon Coleman scores on a 1 yard run after a tremendous effort on a fourth down play from the 4 yard line. Jones Tigers pull within 26–21 of American Heritage. There is 8:24 left in the game.

Jones defensive back Marcellus Reese intercepts a pass and returns the ball to the American Heritage 12 yard line. Jones’ ball 11:07 trailing 26–14.

Dereon Coleman connects with Larry Miles for a 16 yard touchdown and Jones pulls within 26–14 of American Heritage. There is 11:16 left in the game.

American Heritage quarterback Leon Strawder scores on a 14 yard run and the Patriots now have a 26–7 lead over Jones, 1:46 left in the third quarter.

Jones’ leading tackler Bertrand Derose injured and leaves the game. 2:05 left third quarter.

Things keep going wrong for Jones. A Dereon Coleman pass is intercepted by Heritage defensive back Terrance Johnson. Patriot ball at the Jones 43 yard line. 2:30 left third quarter. Heritage leads 19–7.

Jamar Denson catches a 45 yard pass from Leon Strawder and American Heritage jumps on top of Jones 19–7 with 5:08 left in the third quarter. Heritage again misses the extra point trial on a two point try.

Jones offensive line is starting to struggle. Quarterback Dereon Coleman sacked twice on this series, Jones punts again. Jones star so far is punter Kason Mullis who is averaging about 45 yards per punt.

American Heritage takes advantage of the blocked field goal and Tremaine Mullen scores on a 5 yard run. The Patriots missed the extra point and the score is 13–7, Heritage.

Jones’ 46 yard field goal attempt is blocked annd American Heritage returns the ball all the way to the Tigers 25 yard line.

Jones starts the second half with a Ke’Sean Wiliams interception. They take over the ball at the American Heritage 34 yard line.

Jones offensive lineman Jakahari Leonard injured right before halftime. Earlier injury to Danian Success was minor and he returned  to the field.

American Heritage quarterback Leon Strawder hits Jamar Denson with a 14-yard touchdown pass and this game is tied 7–7 with 51 seconds left before halftime. Heritage drive aided by three big Jones penalties.

Jones’ Larry Miles fumbles at the 12-yard line and American Heritage recovers. Takes over the ball at its own 7 yard line.

End of the first quarter at Pitbull Stadium. Jones threatening on its second series. Third and goal at the 14 yard line.

Penalty on a punt and Jones retains possession, still going in the first series. Jones offensive line Danian Success injured during first series and left the field with 7:40 left first quarter.

Dereon Coleman hits  DJ Hicks with a 42-yard touchdown pass and Jones takes the lead with 7:09 left in the first quarter. Tigers 7, American Heritage 0.

And the game is underway. Jones ball To start.

PRE-GAME NOTES:

Jones quarterback DerronColeman and Lake Mary quarterback Noah Grubbs have been on similar missions their entire senior seasons. The end is nearly here for the high school careers of the best two quarterbacks in the Orlando area. Never before have there been two elite Orlando-area quarterbacks sign with Power 4 programs in the same class. Coleman has signed with Miami and Grubbs with Notre Dame.

They ended their junior years with the same bad taste in their mouths. Grubbs and Lake Mary lost to Venice in last year’s Class 7A state championship game, 52-19. Coleman and Jones lost that nightmare of a game against Plantation American Heritage in the 4A state championship game, 40-31.

They have each gargled through 14 opponents this season trying to wash out that taste, trying to get back to the state title game and redeem themselves. They made it.
Jones (13-2) will face Heritage (8-5) again in a 4A title rematch Saturday at 12:30 at FIU’s Pitbull Stadium in Miami, the scene of last year’s failure. Lake Mary (11-3) has the nightcap Saturday at 7:30. The Rams take on Vero Beach (14-0).